Karunanidhi Death: Supreme Court refuses plea seeking stay on last rites of DMK chief at Marina beach

In what could be a big relief for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president M K Stalin and his family, the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused the plea seeking a stay on the last rites of veteran leader Karunanidhi at Marina Beach in Chennai. The plea was filed by K R Ramaswamy, popularly known as Traffic Ramaswamy, a social activist from Chennai, who moved the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court order which allowed the burial of Karunanidhi at the Marina beach on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the High Court allowed performing the last rites of Karunanidhi, observing that there was no legal impediment in providing a place at Marina Beach as sought by the party.

A two-judge bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Huluvadi G Ramesh and Justice S S Sundar, in an unusual midnight hearing, passed the order on a petition filed by the DMK. The judgment came after a heated argument between counsels representing the petitioner and the government.

Supreme Court refuses to entertain the plea filed by Traffic Ramaswamy seeking stay on the last rites of #Karunanidhi at #MarinaBeach. Ramaswamy had moved SC against the Madras High Court order which allowed to perform the last rites of #Karunanidhi at the Marina beach. pic.twitter.com/II9OwEgUWE

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2018

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The apex court directed the ruling AIADMK government to forthwith provide a place for a decent burial of Karunanidhi, who passed away on Tuesday, within the precincts of the burial place of DMK founder C N Annadurai in consonance with the rough sketch submitted by the petitioner.

"There is no legal impediment for not allotting the place...," the division bench said after hearing senior counsels.

"The writ petition is allowed with the direction to the respondent authorities to provide a place for decent burial to lay the mortal remains of late Kalaignar M Karunanidhi, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, on the Marina beach...," it said in the operative portion of the order.

Considering the exigency involved, the operative portion was released and a detailed order would follow, the bench added.

Read | 'Kalaignar' Karunanidhi had special connection with MS Dhoni, Chennai Super Kings and Cricket

Meanwhile, scores of DMK cadres and Kalaignar followers have joined the funeral procession near Marina beach, as DMK chief M Karunanidhi has already left for his eternal abode.